Self-propelled inflatable toy rocket and rocket launcher



Oct.

1965 JAMES Y.'SH|H ETAL 3,210,885

SELF-PROPELLED INFLATABLE TOY ROCKET AND ROCKET LAUNCHER Filed Sept. 27, 1963 I NVEN TOR.

James Y. Shih TCli-fu Shih 1965 JAMES Y. SHIH ETAL 3,210,385

SELF-PROPELLED INFLATABLE TOY ROCKET AND ROCKET LAUNCHER Filed Sept. 27, 1963 INVEN TOR.

James Y. Shih Tcni-fu Shih United States Patent 3,210,885 SELF-PROPELLED INFLATABLE TOY ROCKET AND ROCKET LAUNCHER James Y. Shih and Tai-Fu Shih, both of 819 Aldine Ave., Chicago, Ill. Filed Sept. 27, 1963, Ser. No. 312,156 3 Claims. (Cl. 46-88) This invention relates to rocket and rocket launching toys and also to a projectile which may be launched thereby.

The toy according to the present invention is characterized by a pre-inflated projectile made of elastomeric material which is torsionally strained while held in a launching tube to give a propulsive effort to the projectile when the same is released.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide a simple and safe toy simulating the action of a field military rocket and launching device therefor, such action being characterized by the absence of any expensive materials, nor the need of propellant cartridges requiring charging or recharging.

Another object is to provide a toy rocket launcher adapted to cooperate with a yieldable pre-inflated toy rocket and adapted to be torsionally strained at the trailing end thereof by structure located on the rocket launcher to reduce the confined volume of gas within the rocket, and thereby provide a launching thrust therefor.

A still further object is to provide structure for imposing a torsional and compressive strain on a pre-inflated elastomeric rocket, so that upon release of the strain the same will be propelled with a spinning movement about its longitudinal axis to give the propelled rocket directional stability.

Yet another object is to provide a triggering device for the rocket of a rocket launcher according tothe invention, so that the same may be operated from a remote point.

The foregoing and other objects will become apparent from a study of the following specification taken with the drawing which together describe and illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and what is now considered to be the best mode of practicing the principles thereof. Other embodiments may be suggested to those having the benefit of the teachings hereof, and such other embodiments are intended to be reserved especially as they fall within the scope and purview of the subjoined claims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view, parts being shown in section, of a toy rocket and rocket launcher embodying the improvements of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail view of structure for releasing the rocket from the launcher seen in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of structure adapted for use with the launcher of FIG. 1 for imposing a compressive and torsional strain on the rocket of FIG. 1 prior to the launching of same; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary View of the rocket of FIG. 1 showing details of construction thereof.

Referring now to the drawing, the improved toy rocket and rocket launcher according to the present invention as portrayed in FIG. 1 includes a launching pad 3 mounted on wheels 1 secured to undercarriage members 2. A rocket launcher tube 6 is secured for swiveling movement in a vertical plane to a carriage 4 supported on pad 3, the tube 6 having a trunnion 31a on the underside thereof pivotally supported at 31 to the upper end of carriage 4.

The tube 6 is adapted to be adjusted in a vertical plane and locked in position by an elevation support pivoted at 30 to the underside of tube 6. Elevation support 5 has a series of notches 5a therein adapted to engage selectively with locking pins 27 on the launching pad 3.

3,210,885 Patented Oct. 12, 1965 The tube 6 is adapted to propel a pre-inflated projectile or rocket made of elastomeric material, such rocket being referred to generally by the reference numeral 17. It is generally of cylindrical configuration with an OD. smaller than the ID. of the tube 6. Rocket 17 is adapted to be inflated by the user, if desired, and has a check valve 13 at the leading end thereof. Check valve 13 includes a seat molded integrally with the nose of rocket 17 and cooperating with a valve member 15 retained in position by an annular keeper 16 molded to the nose of rocket 17 at the inside thereof. Valve member 15 is part of an inverted Y-shaped valve member having a stem 15a secured to valve member 15 and arms 15b adhered to the inside cylindrical wall of rocket 17.

In inflating the rocket 17 the valve 15 is moved from seat 14, and in the event the rocket is overinfiated the rocket 17 distends radially to maintain the valve 15 open until the pressure within rocket reduces to a proper value.

As seen in FIG. 1 the rocket 17 has a generally semi spherical trailing end and this is adapted to be distorted elastically to give propulsive effort to the inflated rocket 17 as well as torsional deformation to provide spinning movement thereto. To this end structure is provided for such purpose, and includes a breech member 7 adapted to close the lower end of rocket tube 6. Breech member 7 includes an helically splined block 9 adapted to enter tube 6, splined block 9 having a plurality of helical grooves 9a therein cooperating with guides 9b formed on the inside of tube 9. Block 9 has an extension 11 therefrom with the knurled end 8 thereof being adapted to engage and penetrate the trailing hemispherical end of the rocket 17 to reduce the entrapped volume of gas therein to provide a launching thrust thereby. The limit of forward and twisting movement of breech member 7 is determined by locking grooves 10 coming into engagement with the guides 9b.

In addition to the deformation of the rocket 17 provided by the breech member 7 by its longitudinal movement, rocket 17 undergoes torsional deformation by the entrant and torsional movement of the breech member 7. This is accomplished by turning the breech member 7 with respect to the fixed guides 9b, and as the breech member 7 is advanced it also engages the trailing end of rocket 17 to twist the same to give upon release thereof a spinning action along its longitudinal axis.

Structure is provided for holding the rocket 17 in posi tion within the rocket tube 6 while the rocket 17 is being subjected to the strains previously described, and to this end the rocket tube 6, which is formed of sheet material having inherent resiliency, is formed integrally with a locking band 18 adapted to engage the cylindrical wall of the preinflated rocket 17.

Before the rocket 17 is strained as previously described, the same is placed in position within the rocket tube 6 and is clamped in position as will now be described. The locking band 18 has a locking pin 18a extending therefrom adapted to be engaged between upper and lower arms 25a and 2512 respectively, of a latch block 25. The locking band 18 has a certain resiliency permitting of such movement.

When the rocket 17 is locked in the manner described, and the same has been strained in the manner previously described to give the launching thrust, it is ready for release. Structure is provided for release of the rocket with the launching thrust as described, and such stucture comprises a sheath 20 for a Bowden cable 21, sheath 20 being anchored in such a fashion to the tube 6 that the Bowden cable 21 can push the locking pin 18a from between arms 25a and 2515.

Structure is provided for pushing Bowden cable 21 against a spring load, and to this end the cable sheath 3 20 has a handle 22 at the end thereof remote from the locking pin 18a enclosing a spring 23 for opposing an actuating knob 24 for Bowden cable 21.

The rocket tube 6 may preferably be provided with a sight'33 at the 'forward end thereof, while the breech member 7 may also be provided with a rear sight 32 cooperating with front sight 33. This alignment occurs when breech member 7 has the locking grooves 10 thereof aligned with guides 9b, when the rocket 17 is deformed elastically as described.

The foregoing description is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention, and numerous modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art, and it is therefore not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described. All suitable modifications and equivalents are accordingly intended to be reserved especially as they fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having completely and fully described the invention, what is now claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a toy rocket and a rocket launcher therefor, an inflatable resilient substantially cylindrical rocket, a rocket launcher, said rocket being adapted to be inserted into said rocket launcher and having an CD. which is smaller than the ID. of said rocket launcher, a rotatable and translatively movable breech member at one end of said rocket launcher, means for holding said rocket in position in said launcher, means on said movable breech member for imparting both a torsional and a longitudinal deformation on the trailing end of said rocket to provide a launching thrust thereto upon release of said holding means.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein means are provided for releasing said holding means.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said breech member and one end of said rocket launcher have cooperating grooves and lands for the rotative and translative movement of said breech member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,733,699 2/56 Krinsky 4674 X 2,810,379 10/57 Solomon 4674 X 2,993,297 7/61 Bednar et a1. 4674 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A TOY ROCKET AND A ROCKET LAUNCHER THEREFOR, AN INFLATABLE RESILIENT SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL ROCKET, A ROCKET LAUNCHERE, SAID ROCKET BEING ADAPTED TO BE INSERTED INTO SAID ROCKET LAUNCHER AND HAVING AN O.D. WHICH IS SMALLER THAN THE I.D. OF SAID ROCKET LAUNCHR, A ROTATABLE AND TRANSLATIVELY MOVABLE BREECH MEMBER AT ONE END OF SAID ROCKET LAUNCHER, MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID ROCKET IN POSITION IN SAID LAUNCHER, MEANS ON SAID MOVABLE BREECH MEMBER FOR IMPARTING BOTH A TORSIONAL AND A LONGITUDINAL DEFORMATION ON THE TRAILING END OF SAID ROCKET TO PROVIDE A LAUNCHING THRUST THERETO UPON RELEASE OF SAID HOLDING MEANS. 